CU mascot Ralphie runs the field before the game against Arizona at Folsom Field in Boulder last November. CU won 48-29.

A Senate committee on Wednesday gave its unanimous approval to a resolution to rename the Boulder Turnpike the Buffalo Highway.

That stretch of road leads from Denver to Boulder, home of the University of Colorado. Its mascot, a buffalo, was selected in 1934.

“I think it’s a nice reminder of the University of Colorado, which has the best mascot in the whole country,” said Sen. Rollie Heath, D-Boulder. “Why not take advantage of it?”

The legislature has previously renamed stretches of other roads. A portion of Interstate 70 through Denver is called the Tuskegee Airmen Memorial Highway.

The resolution, which already passed the House, allows the Colorado Department of Transportation to accept gifts, grants, and donations for the initial “Buffalo Highway” signs.

Among the sponsors is Rep. Kevin Priola, R-Henderson, former co-director of the Ralphie program, which runs a buffalo down the field at home games. He was one of the runners when he attended CU in the 1990s. The resolution points out that CU is one of the few schools with a live mascot program.

Of note:In honor of CU Advocacy Day at the Capitol, we’re reblogging an interview with Rep. Kevin Priola that first appeared on March 8, 2010.

Republican Kevin Priola beat the odds in 2008, winning an Adams County House seat Democrats had expected to retain. Priola, 36, is involved in his family’s property management and development enterprise, Cap Land Co., and is co-director of the “Ralphie” program at CU.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.